What Are Solar Panels Made Of?

Solar energy has seen a huge increase in the last few years. People are installing solar panels in their houses to become more energy efficient. Whether you are thinking about installing solar panels or have seen someone installing them, there may be some questions you are curious about.

One such question that many people ask is what solar panels are made of. Along with this, there have been several queries and worries related to the solar panel manufacturing process.

If you want to install a solar panel in your house, it is necessary to get all your queries answered. The guide answers the question – what are solar panels made of? It also covers other queries that you may have about the solar panel manufacturing process.

What are the Components of a Solar Panel?

Solar panels are energy efficient and produce environmentally friendly energy. They use a renewable energy source –solar power that we have an endless supply of. These panels are made from several materials and components.

The main component of most solar photovoltaic panels is crystalline silicon wafers. Almost 95% of solar panels use silicon to create semiconductors. The rest of the 5% use in-development and experimental technologies such as organic photovoltaic cells.

The electricity you get through the solar panels is derived from semiconductors. They come in contact with sunlight, and the electrons present in the semiconductors become loose. It produces electricity, and the process is known as the photovoltaic effect.

However, the photovoltaic cells are not the only component that helps provide to your house. Other components such as wiring, metal, glass, and plastic produce power.

The solar cells used in solar panels are ideally sensitive to sunlight. To protect these solar cells, solar panels have a glass layer along with an anti-reflective coating over them. However, the coating and glass layer still lets the sunlight pass into the cells.

The solar panel system is mounted on a polymer or plastic frame during the installation process. They can either be ground-mounted or installed on your rooftop.

What Are The Parts Present In A Solar Panel?

As mentioned above, solar panels are made from several components. The below section provides an overview of those components.

Silicon Solar Cells

Silicon solar cells are the components that use the photovoltaic effect to convert solar power into electricity. The structure of the solar cells is like a matrix and is bounded together between glass panels. These silicon solar cells create electric charge by interacting with the glass wafer sheet.

Metal Frame

The metal frame of a solar panel is ideally made from aluminium and helps with several things. It prevents the solar panel from getting damaged from dangerous situations or harsh weather conditions. The frame is also helpful in mounting the solar panel at your preferred angle.

Standard 12V Wire

The 12V Wire helps in regulating the energy that is transferred to your inverter. It helps in making the solar panel system more efficient and sustainable.

Bus Wire

The solar silicon cells are connected parallel to the panels using the bus wires. They have a thin solder layer that helps in soldering. Moreover, the bus wires are thick enough to pass on the electric currents.

Glass Sheet

The glass sheet present in the solar panels is usually six to seven millimetres thick. This is quite thin, but they help protect the silicon solar cells present in the solar panel system.

Types of Solar Panels

Like most products, solar panels also come in different types and forms. Below are the three types of solar panels that you will come across.

Monocrystalline Solar Cell

Monocrystalline solar panels are made from a single silicon block. They are produced as silicon wafers. The manufacturing process includes cutting silicon into the wafer and attaching them to the solar panel.

Monocrystalline solar panels are said to be more energy-efficient than amorphous solar cells or polycrystalline cells. However, it is very labour intensive to create the individual wafers of monocrystalline cells.

Due to this, monocrystalline is said to be more expensive than any other type of solar panel. There is a significant black aesthetic to these cells, and they are also very sleek.

Polycrystalline Solar Cell

Another type of solar panel is the polycrystalline solar panel. These solar panels are divided into wagers, and they are made from melting several silicon crystals. The manufacturing process involves melting the silicon molecules and re-fusing them together to form the panel.

Polycrystalline solar cells are not as efficient as monocrystalline solar cells. However, since they are less efficient, they are also less expensive as monocrystalline solar cells. These solar panels have a bluish colour that makes them seem very aesthetic.

Thin Film Solar Cells

Thin film solar panels are made of amorphous silicon and are quite flexible. From the name, it is clear that these solar cells have a thin texture. Thin film solar cells do not have a crystal formation and are attached to metal, plastic, or glass substrates.

Even though the amorphous silicon cells are very versatile, they are not as efficient as poly or monocrystalline cells.

How Are Solar Panels Made?

The solar panel manufacturing process starts with the creation of silicon cells. This process includes melting the silicon and them mixing it with other supporting elements. Then different sheets are cut to turn them into component cells.

The process involves mass production as well as laser cutting. These finished cells are protected using a layer of plastic or glass.

After creating the solar cells, they are connected at the right configuration, shape, and size. For doing this, these are soldered to the solar panel’s base. This base is made from a conductive metal, which is essential for electricity production.

The next step is to connect the system to a polymer frame. This holds the system and insulates all the electrical components. It covers all the components using a protective glass layer. The final step involves boxing all the panels and sending them to the installers.

Is The Manufacturing Process Of Solar Panels Environment Friendly?

Solar energy is a clean source of energy, but the manufacturing process is not as clean. There have been severe improvements in the solar panel manufacturing process, ensuring less environmental pollution.

According to an academic study, there has been a downward slope in the environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing between 1975 and 2015. This downward slope has not stopped in years, and manufacturers have come up with more environmentally friendly solutions.

Solar producers are trying to find environment-friendly solar production and materials. They are also searching for ways to recycle the panels and their components. This minimizes the harsh impacts that solar panels have on the environment.

That being said, the production of solar panels emits harmful carbon dioxide into the environment. This is what renewable energy sources are trying to curb. The same happens for other renewable energy source systems such as wind turbines and power plants.

However, since solar panels have extended longevity, the environmental impact has been divided over the years.

Is It Dangerous To Live Nearby A Solar Farm?

A solar farm is a large piece of land with several solar panels that help generate electricity on a large scale. Solar farms do not emit any toxic chemicals, noise, or pollution that would cause a hazard to the environment.

The hazardous materials that are present in the solar panels are contained within them. They are not emitted during usage, which leads to the production of clean energy. However, the issue arrives when the solar panels are being disposed of or recycled.

It should be done in an area that does not have a livelihood nearby.

What Are The Toxic Materials Present In A Solar Panel?

Certain materials present in the solar panels are very toxic to the environment and people. These include selenium, copper, arsenic, cadmium telluride, or hexavalent chromium coating. However, these materials are only toxic during the manufacturing of solar panels.

Once the solar panels are taken into operation, these materials have no impact. This is because the materials are contained within the solar panel. It does not get activated when the panel comes in contact with sunlight.

Therefore, the energy we get is clean, efficient, and sustainable.

Summing Up

From the above guide, it is clear that a solar cell is made of silicon in different shapes, sizes, and textures. This helps produce energy and provide electricity to your house. However, the production process of a solar panel is not as clean as the energy produced from it.

Solar panels consist of several toxic components which are harmful to the environment. That being said, the operating solar panel system releases no harmful toxins in the environment. Moreover, solar producers are continually searching for more refined and environment-friendly components to manufacture solar panels.

As of now, solar manufacturing plants need to be as far away as possible from the population. This will help keep people safe from these toxins and help them get clean energy.